The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-07
TIE LIQUOR rR.rrta.

1ou Will be called upcn nc thia session to con-
or the liquor bushes In this state The people
nave pronounced IN favor Of high license, local
option and The rigid enforcement OF ths laws re-
isting 70 the liquor traffic aud now turp to you
IN tue hope aud expectation that you viii, IN the
form ~ soitable legislation. give effect to the
verdict which they have found. Outside OF the
limited number engaged In the liquor trsfiiic Ia
and withous regard to political parties, ravar
the measures proposed. eau see no reason why
the desired legislation should not be promptly
enacted l: Is undoubtedly true that while the
question of high license docs not properly relate
70 party poitica 10 IL one OF intense interest 70
the liquor vendors OF the state, and ia our cities
ana large towns has become the predominant
issue &C every election. The liquor interests are
organized as q compsc. power for the avowed
purpose OF combating all eEorts looking to the
further regulation or the liquor traffic. The eff
feo5 or s1ch on organization in such a case can
not be otherwise than harmful All questions
are made secondary TO that of high license. and
eyery man who stands for 0ffice--and more par
ticularly Legislative office-is required to
pledge himself against IL or stand the
brunt Of their united opposition, in
many cases n Gaming utter defeat from tho out
SET. In all candor submit to you II this IL not
pernicious infiuoRce on the legislation OF the
state Two years ago high license bill was be-
Tore the legislature, with every prospect OF be-
Gaming law, but was finally defeated through
the organized efforts OF the liquor interests.
This organization Is much stronger to-day than
it was then, and wilt no doubt oppose with = zeal
worthy Of better cause the measures proposed.
But trust this legislature, elected on the issue
CT high license and local option. 10 also
stronger on this subject than its predecessor.
and that tt has the courage and independence 20
refuse TO be bound and controlled by the liquor
dealers. i have no word to utter against these
men--I Rm willing TO concede that many or them
regard the proposed measures an infringe
meat on tneir personal rights and liberty, but In
the name Of that great body OF our citizens who
believe IN sobriety, In law and order. and who
danl0ra fra.palle The
IiQucr trafjo, protest against tnat interest
being permitted 30 dominate the legislation OF
the state. IL is not only your province but your
owls. 1t is believed that high license and local
option VIII minimize them. sharing In this be-
lief, aud de ring to keep faith with the people,
Client LEGISLATION TO carry the proposed measures
into effect
PRISON LABOR
During the last few years-and more especially
during the last year or two-the subject OF
prison labor and its effect on free labor. when
much earnest consideration. not only by labor
organizt tions throughouG the country, but ty
thoughtful men in the professions and other
walks OF life, whose only interest in the matter
has been one of justice to all parties concerned,
and OF good TO society That prisoners should
work does not admit Of argument. For reasons
of discipline and health. If for no other, they
must be kept employed. But how to do this and
not bring the products Of their labor into COM
petition with those of free worsirgmen aud me-
chantcs Is problem which has engaged the at
which you Will probably be called upon TO CON
slider az this session. am well convinced that
the system Of letting the prison labor out by
contract to tue lowest bidder, now prevailing in
be abolished; aId to this end recommend such
legislation as will prohibit its extension beyond
the term or tho present contract. Tho price
paid by the contractor In Minnesota per convict
a law Iahn Ia rfil al In
the manufacture OF articles which are sold in
the market in competition with like articles
manufactured by free labor. Tho inevitable re-
suit OF this system 10 TO reduce the wages OF free
mechanics, and in numbers of cases In
other states has broken down manufacturing
establishments and thrown hundreds of me-
ment. With this state II things existing it is
not to be wondered that the representatives OF
free labor complain. confess the fullest SYM
pathv with them A state can not be greater
than it's citizens. It's prosperity Is measured by
theirs, and whatever contributes to their adj
vantage adds to its greatness It may 10 found
on Investigation that the evils resultant from
the system In this state are not great as
epreseuted--nevertheless the system is bad, and
should be abolished. Free labor naturally rebels
against cJmpetition with the labor OF criminals,
and who can blame it? 1t should be the policy
Of the state to exalt and dignity labor, and to
conserve in every reasonable and proper way
the interests Of its laboring men In this spirit
recommend the abroRation OF the system in
the expectation that whatever legislation IL
necessary to bring this about you will freely
grant.
DRAINAGE
In July last delegate convention of residents
and property owners Of that portion Of the Red
river valley lying In Minnesota was held at the
city OF Crookston, to devise means and adopt
methods for q comprehensive system of drama &c
for that fertile section of the state The action
of the convention resulted in the employment ui
competent engineers to make surveys. adopt q
plan and report at q subsequent meeting, with
estimates of the cost of the proposed work. The
report has been submitted and l am informed,
will be laid before You with a request for legis-
lation in furtherance of the enterprise. The
scheme is one Of great Importance. not only To
the agriculture or that wide bet OF territory,
stretching from the mUath OF the Bots de Sioux
river on tho south to the Manitoba line on the
north, with its deep alluvial soil and wonderful
wheat-producing powers, but 10 every city,
town, village and industry within it's limits aud
indirectly 60 the state IT large. doubt not that
you will extend to an enterprise promising such
can render, keeping In view The restrictive pro-
visions Of sections and 10 Of article 8 of the
constitution. The passage of q well considered
drainage law applicable to all sections of the
state, would prove Of great utility. The law on
the subject, now on our statue books, has been
found inadequate to the necessities and should
be radically amended or superseded by an act
much mere comprehensive and better adapted
to our wants.
SOLDIERS HOME.
I commend to your favorable consideration
the subject or 9 soldiers home. Represent atiyes
Of several organisations Of ex-soldlers In this
state, who have for some time past given this
time has now come when it is necessary for the
state to provide q home for the Veterans Of the
late war. citizens of Minnesota who are disabled
and needy It has bscA aScertaiued that more
than fifty ex-soldiers are subjsct Of public
charity within our borders. 1t Is also a notable
fact that the generous provision made by the
government nearly twenty yeaLs ago In estab.
fishing i've branch homes In different parts OF
the country have now become entirely made
qua;e 10 the needs of the ex-soldiers. While IL
Is unquestionably the DUTY OF the nation TO pro-
Minnesota will never willingly consent that be-
cause of inadequate provision made by the gen.
eral government, any ex-soidier within our Dor
ders shall be quartered In an aims house. Many
other states, notably Michigan and Illineis, have
set worthy examples in this direction. 70 you
Is accorded the privilege OF giving substantial
expression to the gratitude which the people OF
Minnesota feel toward the defenders of the
Union, whose herOism and valor from 1861 t
1865 preserved us nation.
The death roll OF the old soldiers tells us
plainly that whatever Is to be done In this di-
reotion must DO done promptly. It must be
done, not as a charity, but as ono OF the many
obligations resting upon rs as citizens Of CON-
mon country for which these men did valient
service In the dark days Of the rebellion.
However generously we may deal with them,
our country will st IL be beyond calculation
their debtor. And while would not recon-
mend extrayagance even in this direction, d.
recommend such reasonable expenditure as will
secure q home and comforts TO these old vet
Grams, leaving the details OF the measure to you,
judgment.
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
take pleasure In recommending the creation
and establishments by suitable legislation Of
state bureau Of labor statistics. This measure
was promised by both Of the leading politica
parties of the state In the late campaign, and
as matter of good faith now. II for no othe
reason. should be carried out. But there ar
other reasons sufficient In Themselves to tustif,
it. II Is important TO the whole state. anC
especially to the laboring men. that there should
be some instrumentality through which &c
curate statistical information could he obtained
touching all those questions which coocerl
the welfare Of the producing classes. Thi
information Is especially valuable as basis TO
needed legislation from time TO time affectin'